“We are merely bondsmen to the re-establishment
of the provisions of nature.”

“And we know we shall succeed!” said Emilia,
permitting her antagonism to pass forth in irritable
emphasis.

Lady Charlotte quickly left them, to run up to Georgiana.
She was not long in the house. Emilia hung near
Merthyr all day, and she was near him when the knock
was heard which she could suppose to be Wilfrid’s,
as it proved. Wilfrid was ushered in to Georgiana.
Delicacy had prevented Merthyr from taking special
notice to Emilia of Lady Charlotte’s visit,
and he treated Wilfrid’s similarly, saying, “Georgey
will send down word.”

“Only, don’t leave me till she does,”
Emilia rejoined.

Her agitation laid her open to be misinterpreted.
It was increased when she saw him take a book and
sit in the armchair between two lighted candles, calmly
careless of her. She did not actually define to
herself that he should feel jealously, but his indifference
was one extreme which provoked her instinct to imagine
a necessity for the other. Word came from Georgiana,
and Emilia moved to the door. “Remember,
we dine half-an-hour earlier to-day, on account of
the Cameron party,” was all that he uttered.
Emilia made an effort to go. She felt herself
as a ship sailing into perilous waters, without compass.
Why did he not speak tenderly? Before Georgiana
had revealed his love for her, she had been strong
to see Wilfrid. Now, the idea smote her softened
heart that Wilfrid’s passion might engulf her
if she had no word of sustainment from Merthyr.
She turned and flung herself at his feet, murmuring,
“Say something to me.” Merthyr divined
this emotion to be a sort of foresight of remorse
on her part: he clasped the interwoven fingers
of her hands, letting his eyes dwell upon hers.
The marvel of their not wavering or softening meaningly
kept her speechless. She rose with a strength
not her own: not comforted, and no longer speculating.
It was as if she had been eyeing a golden door shut
fast, that might some day open, but was in itself
precious to behold. She arose with deep humbleness,
which awakened new ideas of the nature of worth in
her bosom. She felt herself so low before this
man who would not be played upon as an obsequious
instrument—­who would not leap into ardour
for her beauty! Before that man upstairs how
would she feel? The question did not come to her.
She entered the room where he was, without a blush.
Her step was firm, and her face expressed a quiet
gladness. Georgiana stayed through the first
commonplaces: then they were alone.